Council directs policy change to an expressway concept and narrowly approves paving Sunset Boulevard with sales-tax infrastructure dollars (4–3)
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Summary
After debate over right-of-way encumbrances and funding, the Minot City Council directed staff to amend a freeway policy toward an expressway and approved working with the property owner to pave Sunset Boulevard using sales-tax infrastructure dollars and requiring dedication of right-of-way; the paving motion passed 4–3.
The Minot City Council on Jan. 5 directed staff to rework long-standing interchange policy for the US‑83 bypass and voted narrowly to pursue paving Sunset Boulevard with city sales-tax infrastructure dollars.
City engineer Lance outlined a decades-old plan that reserved corridors for a potential future freeway-style interchange in northwest Minot. He said the decision on whether to retain a freeway concept or move to an expressway should be made by council because the policy affects undeveloped property and could render parcels unbuildable if right-of-way is required and not acquired.
Council members debated encumbrance impacts, annexation status and whether the city should purchase right-of-way or continue to require dedication. Lance estimated interchange construction could cost roughly $40,000,000, and noted coordination with property owners and BNSF where work crosses rail right-of-way would be required.
Council voted unanimously to direct staff to draft an amendment replacing the freeway concept with an expressway policy and to investigate purchasing right-of-way rather than automatic taking. Lance said staff would present draft language by mid‑February.
Later in the same item the council considered a separate motion from Alderman Pittner to work with property owner Mark Whitman and his consultants to pave Sunset Boulevard using city sales-tax infrastructure dollars, with required right-of-way dedication to the city. Whitman, who testified to the council, said he had originally granted an easement for emergency access and does not want to shoulder the risk and cost of paving alone; he urged the city to pay the improvement because many neighbors and drivers would benefit.
Opponents argued the city should not create a precedent of fully funding private-development roads and suggested special assessments or developer obligations as alternatives. Cost estimates presented during discussion varied: a city engineering estimate cited roughly $1.8 million while local contractors suggested $800,000–$900,000 for a quarter-mile with curb and gutter; council members also discussed public-bid premium and engineering contingencies.
After extended debate, the motion to pursue paving Sunset Boulevard with sales-tax infrastructure dollars and with required dedication of right-of-way passed 4–3, with dissent from Aldermen Blessum, Fuller and Samuelson.
Council directed staff to work with the landowner and return with financing options and more precise cost estimates; no appropriation was made at the Jan. 5 meeting.
